WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.820 We're going to be looking at 1 John 2, verses 18 through 25 this morning. 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:11.980 1 John 2, verses 18 through 25. 00:00:15.540 --> 00:00:20.480 And this is what God says to us through the letter of John. 00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:25.879 Children, it is the last hour. 00:00:25.879 --> 00:00:32.519 And as you have heard that Antichrist is coming, so now many Antichrists have come. 00:00:33.619 --> 00:00:35.539 Therefore, we know that it is the last hour. 00:00:36.659 --> 00:00:38.939 They went out from us, but they were not of us. 00:00:39.019 --> 00:00:41.640 For if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. 00:00:42.759 --> 00:00:45.939 But they went out that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 00:00:47.219 --> 00:00:50.259 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 00:00:51.060 --> 00:00:54.739 I write to you not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, 00:00:54.740 --> 00:00:56.620 and because no lie is of the truth. 00:00:58.520 --> 00:01:01.560 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? 00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:05.439 This is the Antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 00:01:06.579 --> 00:01:08.879 No one who denies the Son has the Father. 00:01:09.820 --> 00:01:12.060 Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 00:01:13.520 --> 00:01:16.000 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. 00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:19.520 If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, 00:01:19.579 --> 00:01:21.980 then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 00:01:21.980 --> 00:01:25.780 And this is the promise that he made to us. 00:01:27.020 --> 00:01:27.960 Eternal life. 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:37.600 The Antichrist, that title has immediate effect in our culture 00:01:37.600 --> 00:01:40.859 to conjure up images of the ultimate evil. 00:01:40.859 --> 00:01:45.239 Even people who care nothing about Jesus Christ 00:01:45.239 --> 00:01:50.879 can find themselves intrigued and spooked by the idea of the Antichrist. 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:55.579 Pop culture, especially horror movies or TV shows, 00:01:56.200 --> 00:01:59.039 love the scary potential of the Antichrist. 00:01:59.980 --> 00:02:02.840 He's often portrayed as some kind of human-demon hybrid 00:02:02.840 --> 00:02:06.120 or maybe even the child of Satan himself. 00:02:07.319 --> 00:02:08.439 Here are a few examples. 00:02:08.439 --> 00:02:12.479 The TV show Supernatural features a version of the Antichrist. 00:02:13.699 --> 00:02:16.120 In the horror movie series The Omen, 00:02:16.300 --> 00:02:18.120 little Damien is the son of Satan, 00:02:18.780 --> 00:02:21.359 destined to rise up as the Antichrist when he's older. 00:02:23.020 --> 00:02:25.259 Antichrist mythology is used in 00:02:25.259 --> 00:02:27.460 The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, 00:02:28.079 --> 00:02:29.900 in Hellboy comics and movies, 00:02:30.079 --> 00:02:31.219 in Stephen King novels. 00:02:31.219 --> 00:02:35.400 And if you've been around American Christian subculture long enough, 00:02:35.479 --> 00:02:37.419 you probably remember Nikolai Karpathia, 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:42.419 the charming and evil Antichrist of the Left Behind novels. 00:02:44.079 --> 00:02:47.120 Now what all of these Antichrists have in common 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:49.340 is that every time they're portrayed, 00:02:49.860 --> 00:02:52.639 it's as a singular apocalyptic figure 00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:56.960 who is spawned from or somehow empowered by Satan himself 00:02:56.960 --> 00:03:00.560 and who threatens ultimate destruction to goodness in the world. 00:03:03.060 --> 00:03:04.640 And it's probably no surprise 00:03:04.640 --> 00:03:07.680 that these images don't capture the biblical vision 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:09.200 of the Antichrist very well. 00:03:10.620 --> 00:03:13.980 When we turn to what God says in the Bible about the Antichrist, 00:03:14.140 --> 00:03:16.980 most of us probably think immediately of the book of Revelation. 00:03:16.979 --> 00:03:22.159 And thanks to Pastor Mike's sermon series through Revelation, 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:26.159 last year we know that as God carries out His plan 00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:27.299 for the fullness of time, 00:03:27.819 --> 00:03:29.759 He's going to be unsuccessfully opposed 00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:31.039 by the unholy trinity 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:33.659 of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. 00:03:35.179 --> 00:03:37.719 And I think it's fair and accurate biblically 00:03:37.719 --> 00:03:40.879 to say that's the ultimate expression of the Antichrist. 00:03:42.399 --> 00:03:44.060 But you might be surprised to know 00:03:44.060 --> 00:03:49.240 that the term Antichrist is found only in John's letter. 00:03:50.939 --> 00:03:53.780 And what we learn about Antichrist here 00:03:53.780 --> 00:03:55.819 is quite different than what we expect. 00:03:57.979 --> 00:04:00.740 Now the main point of our text this morning 00:04:00.740 --> 00:04:05.900 could simply be summarized as don't be an Antichrist. 00:04:06.680 --> 00:04:08.560 And that would be an accurate portrayal 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:09.379 of what John is saying. 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:10.939 Don't be an Antichrist. 00:04:10.939 --> 00:04:14.500 But I think it would also be accurate 00:04:14.500 --> 00:04:17.399 and maybe more edifying to say 00:04:17.399 --> 00:04:20.800 that John is urging us to stick with Jesus for life. 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:23.759 That's what he ultimately wants 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:25.740 for anyone who reads this letter 00:04:25.740 --> 00:04:28.339 is that we stick with Jesus for life. 00:04:30.060 --> 00:04:31.459 And in this text, 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:34.519 he shows us three essential elements 00:04:34.519 --> 00:04:35.720 to sticking with Jesus. 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:39.560 Three things that have to be realities in our life 00:04:39.560 --> 00:04:41.639 if we're going to stick with Jesus for the long haul. 00:04:43.699 --> 00:04:44.879 We have to be somewhere. 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:47.040 We have to confess something. 00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:49.160 And we have to know why it matters. 00:04:50.959 --> 00:04:52.399 So first of all, we have to be somewhere. 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:56.019 We see this in verses 18 through 19. 00:04:56.959 --> 00:04:57.959 In verses 18 through 19, 00:04:58.079 --> 00:05:00.600 there are two major surprises about the Antichrist. 00:05:01.500 --> 00:05:02.899 The first one is in verse 18. 00:05:02.899 --> 00:05:05.259 Children, it is the last hour. 00:05:06.179 --> 00:05:08.339 And as you've heard that Antichrist is coming, 00:05:09.259 --> 00:05:12.379 so now many Antichrists have come. 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:14.359 Therefore, we know that it is the last hour. 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:18.099 The first major surprise about the Antichrist 00:05:18.099 --> 00:05:19.359 is that there's many of them. 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:21.719 In fact, we can't even really say 00:05:21.719 --> 00:05:23.519 the Antichrist anymore 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:24.919 because there's more than one. 00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:28.479 And they're not just coming at some point in the future 00:05:28.479 --> 00:05:29.859 to bring about the end of the world. 00:05:29.860 --> 00:05:31.540 By the time John wrote this letter, 00:05:31.620 --> 00:05:33.060 they'd already started rolling out. 00:05:34.819 --> 00:05:37.180 So right away, if we're going to think rightly 00:05:37.180 --> 00:05:38.080 according to God's Word 00:05:38.080 --> 00:05:39.620 about the reality of Antichrist, 00:05:39.960 --> 00:05:41.120 we need to recalibrate 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:42.379 from thinking about one person 00:05:42.379 --> 00:05:45.520 to thinking about a stream of people 00:05:45.520 --> 00:05:48.360 or a category of people throughout time. 00:05:50.620 --> 00:05:52.060 You notice that John also says 00:05:52.060 --> 00:05:53.220 that we are in the last hour 00:05:53.220 --> 00:05:55.379 and that these Antichrists are an indication 00:05:55.379 --> 00:05:57.379 that we are in the last hour. 00:05:57.379 --> 00:06:00.860 What does he mean by the last hour? 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:03.279 He means that we are in the final stage 00:06:03.279 --> 00:06:04.759 of God's redemptive mission. 00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:08.079 Jesus, the Son of God, has come 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:10.180 and no greater revelation will be given. 00:06:11.500 --> 00:06:14.100 There's not some newer covenant coming 00:06:14.100 --> 00:06:15.560 than the one that Jesus brought. 00:06:16.060 --> 00:06:18.019 There's not some greater salvation coming 00:06:18.019 --> 00:06:20.100 than the one that Jesus has accomplished. 00:06:20.540 --> 00:06:22.719 All that remains at the end of this last hour 00:06:22.719 --> 00:06:24.319 is for God to finalize 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:25.680 what Jesus has already begun. 00:06:27.379 --> 00:06:29.980 So the last hour is this time in history 00:06:29.980 --> 00:06:33.180 begun in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus 00:06:33.180 --> 00:06:36.399 and completed at the end of his work 00:06:36.399 --> 00:06:38.579 when he finishes all that he's begun. 00:06:40.680 --> 00:06:43.740 And everyone who lives in the last hour, 00:06:44.680 --> 00:06:47.079 the most fundamental thing about them 00:06:47.079 --> 00:06:49.159 is their relationship to Jesus. 00:06:50.459 --> 00:06:54.240 Jesus is the defining reality of the last hour. 00:06:54.240 --> 00:06:56.360 And we're going to see more about this idea shortly 00:06:56.360 --> 00:06:58.519 because it's central to what John 00:06:58.519 --> 00:07:00.240 is trying to say here to this church. 00:07:01.100 --> 00:07:02.360 So the first major surprise, 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:03.480 there are many Antichrists. 00:07:03.560 --> 00:07:05.560 The second major surprise is in verse 19. 00:07:06.960 --> 00:07:07.300 He says, 00:07:07.300 --> 00:07:26.800 The second major surprise about these Antichrists 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:27.740 is where they come from. 00:07:27.740 --> 00:07:31.819 They don't come from some bizarre union 00:07:31.819 --> 00:07:32.980 of a human and a demon. 00:07:33.819 --> 00:07:36.319 They aren't unleashed from some pit in hell. 00:07:36.439 --> 00:07:39.340 They aren't sitting in some Satanist cult meeting right now. 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:42.500 They come from the church. 00:07:45.259 --> 00:07:46.780 Who wants to own that? 00:07:47.620 --> 00:07:49.819 A church members meeting, 00:07:50.019 --> 00:07:51.000 someone's giving an update. 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:51.300 They say, 00:07:51.379 --> 00:07:52.199 You know, it's been a tough year. 00:07:52.279 --> 00:07:54.259 We've been working our way through the pandemic. 00:07:54.599 --> 00:07:55.979 And unfortunately, 00:07:56.319 --> 00:07:58.420 three Antichrists went out from us 00:07:58.420 --> 00:07:59.699 into the world this last year. 00:08:01.339 --> 00:08:02.759 Sounds kind of absurd, right? 00:08:04.579 --> 00:08:05.800 But that's what John is saying. 00:08:07.079 --> 00:08:08.860 John is saying that there were participants 00:08:08.860 --> 00:08:10.219 in the life of the church, 00:08:10.360 --> 00:08:12.579 people who we would assume professed to be Christians, 00:08:12.980 --> 00:08:15.159 who at some point left the church 00:08:15.159 --> 00:08:16.759 and left the faith. 00:08:16.759 --> 00:08:19.860 And it's their departure from the church 00:08:19.860 --> 00:08:22.539 that identifies them as Antichrist 00:08:22.539 --> 00:08:25.639 and proves that they never truly belonged to the faith. 00:08:26.980 --> 00:08:28.939 When these people left the church, 00:08:29.019 --> 00:08:32.200 it indicated that there was something wrong all along. 00:08:34.279 --> 00:08:36.319 And now by going out from the church, 00:08:36.419 --> 00:08:38.639 they are identified as Antichrist. 00:08:38.759 --> 00:08:40.539 And we're going to see in the next section 00:08:40.539 --> 00:08:42.399 what it is that made them Antichrists. 00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:45.879 What is it that constitutes an Antichrist? 00:08:45.879 --> 00:08:48.200 But it's their going out that identifies them. 00:08:50.820 --> 00:08:52.439 So the first essential element 00:08:52.439 --> 00:08:53.559 to sticking with Jesus for life 00:08:53.559 --> 00:08:54.639 is that you've got to be somewhere. 00:08:55.820 --> 00:08:57.600 And that somewhere is the church. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:02.000 No one should expect that they or anyone else 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:05.039 can stick with Jesus for life outside of the church. 00:09:06.519 --> 00:09:08.600 And particularly, I mean regularly gathering 00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:09.860 with a local church. 00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:11.639 When you read the New Testament, 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:14.720 it is clear that the church is ordained by God 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:16.720 as the gathering of His redeemed people 00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:18.680 where His gospel is proclaimed 00:09:18.680 --> 00:09:21.220 and where we learn to follow Jesus faithfully. 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:24.120 The church is the community 00:09:24.120 --> 00:09:26.600 where the identity of God's people is revealed 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:29.340 and sustained. 00:09:29.340 --> 00:09:34.600 And so to abandon the church, 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:36.300 to leave the church, 00:09:36.340 --> 00:09:37.800 is to call into question your status 00:09:37.800 --> 00:09:39.000 as a follower of Jesus. 00:09:40.340 --> 00:09:41.379 According to John here, 00:09:41.460 --> 00:09:43.700 your location is indicative of your identity. 00:09:45.220 --> 00:09:47.340 To leave the church is to indicate 00:09:47.980 --> 00:09:50.180 that you never belong to Jesus. 00:09:52.800 --> 00:09:54.500 So we need a few clarifying questions 00:09:54.500 --> 00:09:56.360 because it's really easy to get this turned around, 00:09:56.360 --> 00:09:58.899 what John is saying and what he's not saying. 00:09:59.899 --> 00:10:00.659 So here's the first question. 00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:04.080 Does going to church then make you a Christian? 00:10:05.820 --> 00:10:06.180 No. 00:10:07.379 --> 00:10:08.340 It's possible, of course, 00:10:08.379 --> 00:10:10.360 to be part of a church and not a true Christian. 00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:12.220 In fact, that's what was going on 00:10:12.220 --> 00:10:13.300 with these people here that Jesus, 00:10:13.680 --> 00:10:15.120 or sorry, that John was talking about. 00:10:15.860 --> 00:10:17.259 They were part of a church. 00:10:17.340 --> 00:10:18.480 It wasn't being part of a church 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:19.279 that made them a Christian. 00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:20.740 They were part of this church for a time, 00:10:21.019 --> 00:10:22.320 but eventually they went out. 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:26.180 They left the church. 00:10:26.300 --> 00:10:27.980 They left the gospel that it proclaimed. 00:10:30.120 --> 00:10:30.860 And so the issue is, 00:10:30.980 --> 00:10:31.940 over the long term, 00:10:32.120 --> 00:10:33.379 one major indicator, 00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:34.379 not the only indicator, 00:10:35.100 --> 00:10:36.660 but one major indicator 00:10:36.660 --> 00:10:38.500 of whether you are sticking with Jesus 00:10:38.500 --> 00:10:40.980 is whether you are located in a church or not. 00:10:43.620 --> 00:10:44.620 Here's another question. 00:10:45.460 --> 00:10:46.860 Am I saying that you have to stay 00:10:46.860 --> 00:10:48.540 at Christ the King Church forever, 00:10:48.900 --> 00:10:50.760 or else you're not really sticking with Jesus? 00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:52.659 Am I saying that if you leave 00:10:52.659 --> 00:10:53.720 Christ the King Church, 00:10:53.879 --> 00:10:55.139 are you an antichrist? 00:10:56.639 --> 00:10:57.759 No, not necessarily. 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:00.059 We have some wonderful examples 00:11:00.059 --> 00:11:02.019 of people who have left recently. 00:11:03.299 --> 00:11:06.120 Matt and Elise Sear and their family left, 00:11:06.740 --> 00:11:09.179 not because they were leaving the church, 00:11:09.259 --> 00:11:10.519 not because they were abandoning 00:11:10.519 --> 00:11:11.600 the gathering of God's people, 00:11:11.700 --> 00:11:13.559 not because they were rejecting Jesus, 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:15.519 because they felt called by God 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:18.159 to join another local church for a time 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:20.579 in anticipation of eventually 00:11:20.579 --> 00:11:21.819 planning a church themselves. 00:11:22.779 --> 00:11:24.879 So they did not go out from the church 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:26.679 like John is talking about. 00:11:26.719 --> 00:11:27.819 They went out from our church 00:11:27.819 --> 00:11:29.919 for the purpose of following God's leading elsewhere. 00:11:32.019 --> 00:11:34.620 There were some people from our church 00:11:34.620 --> 00:11:35.539 who lived in Racine. 00:11:36.539 --> 00:11:37.919 They left our church, 00:11:38.539 --> 00:11:40.259 not because they were abandoning 00:11:40.259 --> 00:11:41.240 the gathering of God's people, 00:11:41.339 --> 00:11:42.159 but because they said, 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:43.079 hey, we live in Racine. 00:11:43.220 --> 00:11:44.100 We need to find a church 00:11:44.100 --> 00:11:44.980 that's closer to home 00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:46.800 so that we can be more engaged. 00:11:50.100 --> 00:11:50.980 So I'm not saying 00:11:50.980 --> 00:11:51.960 that you have to stay 00:11:51.960 --> 00:11:54.200 at Christ the King church forever 00:11:54.200 --> 00:11:55.039 in order to be 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:57.139 a faithful follower of Jesus. 00:12:00.300 --> 00:12:01.300 But I am saying 00:12:01.300 --> 00:12:02.740 that you do have to be part 00:12:02.740 --> 00:12:04.139 of a church. 00:12:05.539 --> 00:12:06.659 You do have to be part 00:12:06.659 --> 00:12:08.019 of a church that preaches Jesus 00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:09.639 if you want to stick with Jesus 00:12:09.639 --> 00:12:10.460 for life. 00:12:11.700 --> 00:12:12.639 And right now, 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:14.120 and over this past year, 00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:15.879 we faced a lot of pressures 00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:17.419 to abandon the church. 00:12:19.220 --> 00:12:21.639 We've been dealing with COVID-19. 00:12:23.320 --> 00:12:24.179 Initially, it meant 00:12:24.179 --> 00:12:24.960 that we had to move 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:26.139 to Zoom meetings. 00:12:26.940 --> 00:12:27.940 And then we were meeting 00:12:27.940 --> 00:12:29.100 outside for a while, 00:12:29.179 --> 00:12:30.000 and now we're meeting 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:31.620 back in the building, 00:12:31.740 --> 00:12:34.220 but we have increased distance. 00:12:34.340 --> 00:12:35.299 We have mask wearing. 00:12:37.419 --> 00:12:38.720 And any one of these things 00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:40.019 could lead someone to say, 00:12:40.100 --> 00:12:40.519 you know what? 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:42.060 Maybe it's not worth it. 00:12:42.059 --> 00:12:44.399 You know, 00:12:44.459 --> 00:12:45.839 I've been watching church 00:12:45.839 --> 00:12:46.899 on Zoom for a while 00:12:46.899 --> 00:12:47.939 or on live stream, 00:12:48.079 --> 00:12:50.659 and I don't really think 00:12:50.659 --> 00:12:51.379 there's much difference 00:12:51.379 --> 00:12:52.619 between being there 00:12:52.619 --> 00:12:54.099 and watching. 00:12:54.959 --> 00:12:55.719 Now, I think about it. 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:56.079 What's the difference 00:12:56.079 --> 00:12:56.979 between watching the church 00:12:56.979 --> 00:12:57.719 on live stream 00:12:57.719 --> 00:12:59.259 and just watching 00:12:59.259 --> 00:13:00.379 any random sermon 00:13:00.379 --> 00:13:01.399 once in a while? 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:02.979 And what's the difference 00:13:02.979 --> 00:13:04.439 between just watching 00:13:04.439 --> 00:13:06.159 a sermon on my computer 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:07.659 and just not getting 00:13:07.659 --> 00:13:08.399 out of bed at all? 00:13:09.099 --> 00:13:10.319 What difference does it make? 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:12.580 So some of the ways 00:13:12.580 --> 00:13:13.500 that we've been separated 00:13:13.500 --> 00:13:14.580 may lead some people 00:13:14.580 --> 00:13:16.700 to think it's not worth it anymore. 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:19.920 Some people may be frustrated, 00:13:21.040 --> 00:13:22.220 frustrated by distance, 00:13:22.420 --> 00:13:24.540 frustrated by having to watch on Zoom 00:13:24.540 --> 00:13:25.200 if they have to stay 00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:25.960 at home right now, 00:13:26.100 --> 00:13:27.500 frustrated by having to wear masks, 00:13:27.540 --> 00:13:27.860 and they say, 00:13:27.920 --> 00:13:28.300 you know what? 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:32.040 I'm tired of all this COVID stuff. 00:13:32.560 --> 00:13:33.860 I don't like the decisions 00:13:33.860 --> 00:13:35.720 the elders are making 00:13:35.720 --> 00:13:37.560 about how we're going 00:13:37.559 --> 00:13:38.359 to deal with this. 00:13:39.719 --> 00:13:40.679 I'm just going to give up. 00:13:43.739 --> 00:13:45.159 We've had political pressures, 00:13:46.479 --> 00:13:48.099 a significant election year. 00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:51.039 You've probably seen some things 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:52.099 in your fellow church members 00:13:52.099 --> 00:13:52.879 that you don't like 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:54.599 online or in person. 00:13:55.239 --> 00:13:56.479 You don't like what they've said 00:13:56.479 --> 00:13:57.159 about the election. 00:13:57.339 --> 00:13:58.099 You don't like who you think 00:13:58.099 --> 00:13:59.479 they voted for. 00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:02.940 And you know 00:14:02.940 --> 00:14:06.120 that you're closer to Jesus 00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:06.800 than they are 00:14:06.800 --> 00:14:10.080 because of who they voted for 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:10.960 and who you voted for. 00:14:12.300 --> 00:14:12.720 And in fact, 00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:13.899 you're so close to Jesus 00:14:13.899 --> 00:14:15.200 that you just need to give up 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:16.120 on this group of people. 00:14:17.139 --> 00:14:18.320 They're so much farther away 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:19.560 from Jesus than you are. 00:14:19.899 --> 00:14:20.539 The best bet 00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:21.539 for your relationship with Jesus 00:14:21.539 --> 00:14:22.440 is to get out of here. 00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:27.380 there's a lot of pressures 00:14:27.380 --> 00:14:28.200 and temptations 00:14:28.200 --> 00:14:29.320 to abandon the gathering 00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:31.340 of God's people 00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:33.400 to leave the local church 00:14:33.400 --> 00:14:33.900 right now. 00:14:37.020 --> 00:14:38.220 But we need to remember 00:14:38.220 --> 00:14:42.980 that our preferred political party 00:14:42.980 --> 00:14:43.660 or faction 00:14:43.660 --> 00:14:46.180 has not been ordained by God 00:14:46.180 --> 00:14:46.860 as the vehicle 00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:47.940 of His redeeming the work 00:14:47.940 --> 00:14:48.680 in the world. 00:14:49.420 --> 00:14:50.440 Only the church has. 00:14:50.440 --> 00:14:54.440 And no precautions 00:14:54.440 --> 00:14:55.340 we may take, 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:57.420 even if you agree with them 00:14:57.420 --> 00:14:57.720 or not, 00:14:57.780 --> 00:14:59.180 no precautions we may take 00:14:59.180 --> 00:15:00.360 are going to stop 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:02.020 God's work in the world 00:15:02.020 --> 00:15:03.140 and in His church 00:15:03.140 --> 00:15:03.820 in particular. 00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:07.900 So continue gathering 00:15:07.900 --> 00:15:09.200 with a local church. 00:15:09.260 --> 00:15:10.100 If it's not this one, 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:10.960 that's okay. 00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:13.920 But find a local church 00:15:13.920 --> 00:15:14.960 that preaches the gospel 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:15.460 of Jesus 00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:17.120 and continue gathering 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:17.600 with them. 00:15:17.640 --> 00:15:18.240 If we're going to stick 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:19.160 with Jesus for life, 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:20.020 we have to be somewhere. 00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:22.120 That somewhere is in the church. 00:15:24.500 --> 00:15:24.860 Secondly, 00:15:24.940 --> 00:15:25.400 if we're going to stick 00:15:25.400 --> 00:15:26.080 with Jesus for life, 00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:27.360 we have to confess something. 00:15:29.820 --> 00:15:30.580 We may ask, 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:31.620 in light of these things, 00:15:31.700 --> 00:15:32.460 in light of the fact 00:15:32.460 --> 00:15:33.780 that antichrists 00:15:33.780 --> 00:15:34.680 aren't coming from 00:15:34.680 --> 00:15:35.680 this evil world, 00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:36.160 they're coming 00:15:36.160 --> 00:15:37.740 from within our gatherings, 00:15:37.820 --> 00:15:38.460 how can we have 00:15:38.460 --> 00:15:39.060 any confidence? 00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:41.619 if even some 00:15:41.619 --> 00:15:42.559 who seem to be part 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:43.099 of the church 00:15:43.099 --> 00:15:44.199 are antichrists, 00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:44.919 how can we have 00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:45.299 the ability 00:15:45.299 --> 00:15:46.099 to sort these things 00:15:46.099 --> 00:15:46.539 out rightly? 00:15:47.599 --> 00:15:48.559 How can we know 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:51.219 if we're a faithful follower 00:15:51.219 --> 00:15:51.599 of Jesus 00:15:51.599 --> 00:15:52.679 or if we're an antichrist? 00:15:54.679 --> 00:15:55.039 Well, 00:15:55.079 --> 00:15:55.939 John helps us out 00:15:55.939 --> 00:15:57.559 in verses 20 00:15:57.559 --> 00:15:59.199 and 21. 00:16:00.739 --> 00:16:01.519 How can we figure 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:02.099 these things out? 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:02.479 He says, 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:03.139 but you have been 00:16:03.139 --> 00:16:04.519 anointed by the Holy One 00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:07.000 and you all have knowledge. 00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:08.580 I'll write to you 00:16:08.580 --> 00:16:09.440 not because you do not 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:10.080 know the truth 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:11.159 but because you know it 00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:12.300 and because no lie 00:16:12.300 --> 00:16:13.200 is of the truth. 00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:15.879 The way we can sort 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:16.639 these things out 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:17.420 is through the testimony 00:16:17.420 --> 00:16:18.320 of the Holy Spirit. 00:16:19.659 --> 00:16:20.519 The anointing 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:21.279 of the Holy Spirit 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:22.539 given to us by God 00:16:22.539 --> 00:16:23.960 gives us knowledge, 00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:25.460 which is exactly 00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:26.460 what Jesus promised 00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:27.240 that the Holy Spirit 00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:27.980 would do for us 00:16:27.980 --> 00:16:28.700 when He was telling 00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:29.300 His disciples 00:16:29.299 --> 00:16:29.939 about the coming 00:16:29.939 --> 00:16:30.740 of the Holy Spirit. 00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:33.179 The anointing 00:16:33.179 --> 00:16:33.899 of the Holy Spirit 00:16:33.899 --> 00:16:34.639 on our lives 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:35.899 given to us by Jesus 00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:36.659 as a guarantee 00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:37.620 of our salvation 00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:39.519 gives us the knowledge 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:40.779 necessary to distinguish 00:16:40.779 --> 00:16:42.059 between faithful follower 00:16:42.059 --> 00:16:43.539 and antichrist 00:16:43.539 --> 00:16:45.159 both in our own hearts 00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:47.279 and in those around us. 00:16:49.179 --> 00:16:50.139 But here's the thing 00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:50.679 John says, 00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:52.159 sometimes that Holy Spirit 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:53.519 deposit of knowledge 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:54.699 needs reactivation 00:16:54.699 --> 00:16:56.479 by teaching 00:16:56.479 --> 00:16:57.319 and by reminder. 00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:58.359 And John says, 00:16:58.439 --> 00:16:59.120 that's why I'm writing 00:16:59.120 --> 00:16:59.580 to you. 00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:01.840 I want these things 00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:02.360 that I'm writing 00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:03.419 to you to align 00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:04.140 with the testimony 00:17:04.140 --> 00:17:05.160 of the Holy Spirit 00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:05.940 in your hearts 00:17:05.940 --> 00:17:07.259 and reactivate 00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:07.839 what He's already 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:08.480 given to you. 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:10.380 It's kind of like 00:17:10.380 --> 00:17:11.440 an SOS pad. 00:17:11.859 --> 00:17:12.400 You've got a piece 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:13.920 of steel wool 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:15.059 infused with soap. 00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:15.599 It's really good 00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:16.460 for cleaning things. 00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:18.079 Let's not activate it 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:18.779 until you get it wet. 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:19.740 You've got to suds it up. 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:22.420 And so John is writing 00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:23.299 to suds up 00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:24.880 the Holy Spirit anointing 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:25.920 so that these believers 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:26.839 can effectively 00:17:26.839 --> 00:17:28.259 apply that truth 00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:29.240 in their own situation. 00:17:32.579 --> 00:17:33.819 And what happens is 00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:35.259 as we hear the truth, 00:17:36.140 --> 00:17:36.920 the Holy Spirit 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:38.180 given to us by God 00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:39.440 testifies to it 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:39.740 and says, 00:17:39.879 --> 00:17:40.420 this is true. 00:17:42.119 --> 00:17:43.660 We see it for what it is 00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:44.940 because of the Holy Spirit. 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.680 And John knows 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:48.839 that because of the testimony 00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:49.559 of the Holy Spirit, 00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:50.879 he can write to these believers 00:17:50.879 --> 00:17:51.799 about the realities 00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:52.799 of Antichrist 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:54.359 and they will acknowledge 00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:56.399 it as true 00:17:56.399 --> 00:17:57.779 and they'll be able 00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:58.700 to apply it. 00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:00.919 So with the Holy Spirit 00:18:00.919 --> 00:18:01.419 anointing 00:18:01.419 --> 00:18:02.019 and with the truth 00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:02.799 of God's Word, 00:18:02.919 --> 00:18:04.339 we can competently 00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:05.639 and rightly judge 00:18:05.639 --> 00:18:07.359 between faithful follower 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:09.359 and Antichrist. 00:18:10.119 --> 00:18:10.539 Again, 00:18:10.619 --> 00:18:11.559 beginning with ourselves. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:15.180 So the Holy Spirit 00:18:15.180 --> 00:18:16.019 helps us distinguish 00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:16.940 the truth 00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:19.220 to recognize it. 00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:22.180 But what is that truth? 00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:23.140 What is the content 00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:23.579 of the truth? 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:24.740 What does the truth entail 00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:26.779 that John is talking about? 00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:28.720 If we have to confess 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:29.620 something in order 00:18:29.620 --> 00:18:30.420 to stick with Jesus 00:18:30.420 --> 00:18:30.940 for life, 00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:31.839 how do we know 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:32.640 what to confess? 00:18:34.600 --> 00:18:36.299 Look at verses 22-23. 00:18:37.120 --> 00:18:38.079 Who is a liar 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:39.079 but he who denies 00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:40.160 that Jesus is the Christ? 00:18:42.120 --> 00:18:43.559 This is the Antichrist, 00:18:43.660 --> 00:18:44.440 he who denies 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:45.500 the Father and the Son. 00:18:46.220 --> 00:18:46.900 No one who denies 00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:47.880 the Son has the Father. 00:18:48.839 --> 00:18:49.619 Whoever confesses 00:18:49.619 --> 00:18:51.140 the Son has the Father also. 00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:54.779 If I were to ask you, 00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:55.740 what is the opposite 00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:57.940 of the Antichrist? 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:01.380 If you were like me, 00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:02.240 you would be inclined 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:02.559 to say, 00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:02.799 well, 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:04.900 the opposite of an Antichrist 00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:06.079 is obviously Christ 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:08.279 because he's Antichrist. 00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:10.680 But according to John, 00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:11.299 the opposite 00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:13.000 of an Antichrist 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:13.759 is not Jesus. 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:15.980 it's a confessor 00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:16.559 of Christ. 00:19:17.819 --> 00:19:19.099 A confessor of Christ 00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:19.660 is the opposite 00:19:19.660 --> 00:19:20.660 of an Antichrist. 00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:21.379 And what does it mean 00:19:21.379 --> 00:19:22.559 to confess Jesus? 00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:25.759 Well, first, 00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:26.519 we probably have to understand 00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:26.920 what it means 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:27.779 to deny Jesus. 00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:29.819 Because he says, 00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:30.200 who is a liar 00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:30.799 but he who denies 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:31.700 that Jesus is the Christ? 00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:34.599 What does it mean 00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:35.220 to deny Jesus? 00:19:35.299 --> 00:19:35.779 It doesn't mean 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:37.119 to deny that Jesus existed. 00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:39.059 That wasn't really 00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:39.720 an issue 00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:40.640 when John 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:41.480 was writing this letter. 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:43.680 Jesus was with 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:44.579 many of these people 00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:45.559 not that long ago. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:46.380 Some of them 00:19:46.380 --> 00:19:47.019 had seen him. 00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:47.620 Some of them 00:19:47.620 --> 00:19:48.360 had heard from others 00:19:48.360 --> 00:19:48.880 who'd seen them. 00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:49.579 It was not a question 00:19:49.579 --> 00:19:50.640 of does Jesus exist? 00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:53.099 So denying Jesus 00:19:53.099 --> 00:19:53.579 does not mean 00:19:53.579 --> 00:19:54.500 denying that he existed. 00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:55.559 It doesn't even mean 00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:56.360 denying that he had 00:19:56.360 --> 00:19:57.279 some divine power. 00:19:59.259 --> 00:20:00.279 People that John 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:00.980 was writing to 00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:01.519 would have been 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:02.440 willing to accept, 00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:03.599 you know, 00:20:03.660 --> 00:20:04.279 people can come 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:05.059 with divine power, 00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:06.480 empowered by God 00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:07.259 or the gods. 00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:11.039 to deny Jesus 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:11.900 is to deny 00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:13.220 that he is the Christ. 00:20:14.579 --> 00:20:15.339 Christ means 00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:16.019 Messiah 00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:17.599 or anointed one. 00:20:19.140 --> 00:20:19.759 To deny 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.660 that Jesus is the Christ 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:21.299 means to deny 00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:22.200 that he is the one 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:23.700 sent by God the Father 00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:24.420 to accomplish 00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:25.180 his plan 00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:26.140 for the redemption 00:20:26.140 --> 00:20:26.900 of creation. 00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:29.019 To deny 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:29.879 that Jesus is the one 00:20:29.879 --> 00:20:30.819 who died for the sins 00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:31.240 of the world, 00:20:31.379 --> 00:20:32.379 rose in eternal life, 00:20:32.859 --> 00:20:33.619 ascended to the throne 00:20:33.619 --> 00:20:34.099 of God, 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.119 and will one day 00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:35.980 return to fully 00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:36.980 establish his kingdom. 00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:40.440 In other words, 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:41.079 to deny 00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:43.319 Jesus as the Christ 00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:44.000 is to deny 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:44.779 that he is exactly 00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:45.819 who God has revealed 00:20:45.819 --> 00:20:46.500 him to be. 00:20:49.619 --> 00:20:50.779 A generic Jesus 00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:51.740 is not an option. 00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:52.640 That's why 00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:54.079 John is so anxious 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:54.799 at the very beginning 00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:55.279 of his letter, 00:20:56.140 --> 00:20:56.779 chapter 1, 00:20:57.799 --> 00:20:58.619 verse 1, 00:20:58.680 --> 00:20:59.160 he says, 00:20:59.259 --> 00:20:59.680 that which was 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:00.119 from the beginning 00:21:00.119 --> 00:21:00.980 which we have heard, 00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:01.599 which we have seen 00:21:01.599 --> 00:21:02.099 with our eyes, 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:02.960 which we have looked upon 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:03.440 and have touched 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:04.160 with our hands. 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:06.299 The life was made manifest 00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:06.960 and we have seen it 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:08.039 and testified to it. 00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:10.420 It was made manifest 00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:11.019 to us, 00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:11.740 that which we have seen 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.019 and heard 00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:12.940 we proclaim to you. 00:21:15.120 --> 00:21:15.840 John is saying 00:21:15.840 --> 00:21:17.000 something specific 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:17.740 has happened. 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:19.240 Someone specific 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:20.059 has come. 00:21:20.600 --> 00:21:21.460 And we want to tell you 00:21:21.460 --> 00:21:21.779 about that. 00:21:21.840 --> 00:21:22.680 We want you to believe 00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:24.299 that a generic Jesus 00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:25.140 isn't an option. 00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:27.039 Any version of Jesus 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:27.980 that doesn't include 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:29.180 all that he claimed 00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:30.539 about himself 00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:31.600 isn't an option. 00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:34.500 anyone who confesses 00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:35.559 a generic Jesus 00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:36.939 is actually 00:21:36.939 --> 00:21:37.980 an antichrist. 00:21:40.379 --> 00:21:41.219 Because John says 00:21:41.219 --> 00:21:42.339 you have to confess 00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:43.839 that Jesus is the Christ, 00:21:43.939 --> 00:21:45.199 that he is the anointed one 00:21:45.199 --> 00:21:46.519 from the Father. 00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:47.879 There has to be 00:21:47.879 --> 00:21:48.899 specificity 00:21:48.899 --> 00:21:49.679 to our confession 00:21:49.679 --> 00:21:50.419 about Jesus. 00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:53.659 In order for our confession 00:21:53.659 --> 00:21:54.119 about Jesus 00:21:54.119 --> 00:21:54.699 to be true, 00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:55.799 it has to align 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:56.919 with the reality 00:21:56.919 --> 00:21:58.359 of who he really is. 00:21:58.359 --> 00:22:02.599 And the more we see 00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:04.199 clearly what this means, 00:22:05.859 --> 00:22:06.699 to confess Jesus 00:22:06.699 --> 00:22:07.839 means to align 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:10.199 with who he really is, 00:22:10.719 --> 00:22:11.399 we begin to realize 00:22:11.399 --> 00:22:12.299 that we can deny Jesus 00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:13.019 with our lives 00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:14.159 as well as with our words. 00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:16.059 In fact, 00:22:16.139 --> 00:22:16.899 Paul says in Titus 00:22:16.899 --> 00:22:17.519 that it's possible 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:18.559 to profess God 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:19.199 with our mouths 00:22:19.199 --> 00:22:20.000 but deny him 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:20.719 by our works. 00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:24.779 So here's a working 00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:26.099 definition of denying Jesus. 00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:28.919 to live 00:22:28.919 --> 00:22:30.199 or to speak 00:22:30.199 --> 00:22:31.740 against the reality 00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:32.679 of who Jesus is. 00:22:33.939 --> 00:22:34.779 To live 00:22:34.779 --> 00:22:35.219 or to speak 00:22:35.219 --> 00:22:36.039 contrary 00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:38.219 to who the Father 00:22:38.219 --> 00:22:39.099 has revealed Jesus 00:22:39.099 --> 00:22:39.519 to be. 00:22:39.959 --> 00:22:40.799 To contradict 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:42.039 what God has revealed 00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:42.819 about the Son. 00:22:44.379 --> 00:22:45.199 An antichrist 00:22:45.199 --> 00:22:45.639 is someone 00:22:45.639 --> 00:22:46.279 who refuses 00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:47.019 to confess 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:48.019 Jesus 00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:49.419 for who he really is. 00:22:51.379 --> 00:22:52.219 Things like 00:22:52.219 --> 00:22:53.379 Jesus is not 00:22:53.379 --> 00:22:53.980 God's anointed. 00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:55.599 He is not 00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:56.720 God's only plan 00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:57.720 for solving 00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:58.480 the problem of sin 00:22:58.480 --> 00:22:59.079 and making the world 00:22:59.079 --> 00:22:59.579 right again. 00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:01.839 Things like 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:02.799 Jesus is optional. 00:23:03.940 --> 00:23:04.279 I can have 00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:04.759 a meaningful 00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:05.920 spiritual life 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:06.380 or connection 00:23:06.380 --> 00:23:06.799 to God 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:07.620 apart from Jesus. 00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:10.599 Or things like 00:23:10.599 --> 00:23:11.180 I can claim 00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:12.160 the name of Jesus 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:13.200 or the name 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:13.720 of the Father 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:14.519 but live in a way 00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:15.559 that lies to the world 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:16.519 about who he is. 00:23:20.140 --> 00:23:20.819 To deny 00:23:20.819 --> 00:23:21.900 Jesus as the Christ 00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:22.839 means to live 00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:23.299 or to speak 00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:23.779 contrary 00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:24.599 to who God 00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:25.199 has revealed him 00:23:25.199 --> 00:23:25.539 to be. 00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:27.779 And so if that's 00:23:27.779 --> 00:23:28.179 the definition 00:23:28.179 --> 00:23:28.699 of denying 00:23:28.699 --> 00:23:29.179 the definition 00:23:29.179 --> 00:23:29.899 of confessing 00:23:29.899 --> 00:23:30.119 Jesus 00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:30.779 is the opposite. 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:32.779 To confess 00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:33.179 Jesus 00:23:33.179 --> 00:23:34.019 is to live 00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:34.759 and speak 00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:35.359 in agreement 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:36.259 with reality 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:37.319 as revealed 00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:37.839 by God. 00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:39.679 To confess 00:23:39.679 --> 00:23:40.279 Jesus means 00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:40.819 that when people 00:23:40.819 --> 00:23:41.899 hear your words 00:23:41.899 --> 00:23:42.899 and see your life 00:23:42.899 --> 00:23:44.859 they see more 00:23:44.859 --> 00:23:45.759 clearly who Jesus 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:46.559 really is. 00:23:47.699 --> 00:23:48.579 They see that 00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:49.379 he really is 00:23:49.379 --> 00:23:50.679 God's single solution 00:23:50.679 --> 00:23:51.339 to sin 00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:52.159 and evil 00:23:52.159 --> 00:23:52.819 and suffering. 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.220 They see that 00:23:55.220 --> 00:23:56.159 he's not optional 00:23:56.159 --> 00:23:56.859 at all 00:23:56.859 --> 00:23:58.139 when they see 00:23:58.139 --> 00:23:58.579 your life 00:23:58.579 --> 00:23:58.959 and they hear 00:23:58.959 --> 00:23:59.480 your words. 00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:00.959 They see in your life 00:24:00.959 --> 00:24:01.419 what it means 00:24:01.419 --> 00:24:02.339 to put your hope 00:24:02.339 --> 00:24:03.019 in Jesus 00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:04.500 and they see 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.019 a reflection 00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:05.879 of who the Father 00:24:05.879 --> 00:24:06.720 and the Son are. 00:24:09.659 --> 00:24:10.480 To confess 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:11.179 Jesus means 00:24:11.179 --> 00:24:11.939 to live 00:24:11.939 --> 00:24:12.539 and to speak 00:24:12.539 --> 00:24:13.139 in alignment 00:24:13.139 --> 00:24:13.819 with who he 00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:14.240 has revealed 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:15.059 himself to be. 00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:18.659 Now a true 00:24:18.659 --> 00:24:19.639 antichrist 00:24:19.639 --> 00:24:21.240 denies that 00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:22.059 Jesus is the Christ. 00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:24.679 Jesus is not 00:24:24.679 --> 00:24:25.220 the anointed 00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:25.759 of God. 00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:27.480 He is not 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:27.980 the one 00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:29.059 who accomplishes 00:24:29.059 --> 00:24:29.639 God's plan. 00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:33.200 But even 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:34.039 confessors 00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:34.740 of Jesus 00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:36.619 can be 00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:37.220 influenced 00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:37.859 by what 00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:38.319 John later 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:38.740 calls in 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.220 1 John 00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:40.359 the spirit 00:24:40.359 --> 00:24:41.059 of the 00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:41.839 antichrist. 00:24:42.879 --> 00:24:43.659 An influence 00:24:43.660 --> 00:24:44.180 that pushes 00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:45.400 even confessors 00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:46.100 of Jesus 00:24:46.100 --> 00:24:47.240 to start 00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:47.720 drifting 00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:48.600 into living 00:24:48.600 --> 00:24:49.220 and speaking 00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:49.660 in ways 00:24:49.660 --> 00:24:50.100 that lie 00:24:50.100 --> 00:24:50.580 about who 00:24:50.580 --> 00:24:51.259 Jesus is. 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:52.960 And there 00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:53.279 are some 00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:54.140 antichrist 00:24:54.140 --> 00:24:54.800 tendencies 00:24:54.800 --> 00:24:55.340 that can 00:24:55.340 --> 00:24:55.720 operate 00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:56.100 in all 00:24:56.100 --> 00:24:56.360 of our 00:24:56.360 --> 00:24:56.759 lives. 00:24:58.580 --> 00:24:59.259 So I want 00:24:59.259 --> 00:24:59.420 to give 00:24:59.420 --> 00:25:00.019 some practical 00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:00.740 examples 00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.700 of these 00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:02.400 antichrist 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:02.840 tendencies. 00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:04.800 Again, 00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:05.380 I'm not saying 00:25:05.380 --> 00:25:06.420 that if one 00:25:06.420 --> 00:25:06.660 of these 00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:07.120 is true 00:25:07.120 --> 00:25:07.560 about your 00:25:07.560 --> 00:25:07.980 life, 00:25:08.560 --> 00:25:09.100 that means 00:25:09.100 --> 00:25:09.700 that you're 00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:10.380 an antichrist. 00:25:11.120 --> 00:25:11.600 In fact, 00:25:12.040 --> 00:25:13.240 I'm confident 00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:14.740 that at 00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:15.039 least one 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:15.319 of these 00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:15.579 will have 00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:15.960 been true 00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:16.319 of all 00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:16.519 of you 00:25:16.519 --> 00:25:16.819 at some 00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:17.120 point 00:25:17.120 --> 00:25:18.200 in your 00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:18.799 life as 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:19.339 a believer. 00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:21.980 But if we 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:22.339 want to 00:25:22.339 --> 00:25:23.140 confess Jesus 00:25:23.140 --> 00:25:23.599 for all 00:25:23.599 --> 00:25:23.839 that he 00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:24.400 really is, 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:24.700 we need 00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:24.980 to see 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:25.160 the 00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:25.799 antichrist 00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:26.319 tendencies 00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:27.240 that can 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:27.539 threaten 00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:27.920 even 00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:28.480 confessors 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:28.900 of Jesus. 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:32.779 Here's a 00:25:32.779 --> 00:25:33.140 big one. 00:25:34.220 --> 00:25:34.900 Watch out 00:25:34.900 --> 00:25:36.720 for denying 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.359 Jesus by 00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:38.099 acting as if 00:25:38.099 --> 00:25:38.660 what's most 00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:39.160 important 00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:40.140 for those 00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:40.720 around you 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:42.740 is that 00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:43.180 they believe 00:25:43.180 --> 00:25:43.559 in God 00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:44.299 generically 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:46.180 rather than 00:25:46.180 --> 00:25:46.819 repenting and 00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:47.200 putting their 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:47.640 faith in 00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:48.200 Jesus alone 00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:48.860 for salvation. 00:25:50.660 --> 00:25:51.220 American 00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:52.100 Christians can 00:25:52.100 --> 00:25:52.420 have a 00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:53.519 tendency to 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:54.220 communicate to 00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:54.700 the world 00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:56.259 that what's 00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:57.039 most important 00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:57.620 is that you 00:25:57.620 --> 00:25:58.100 just believe 00:25:58.100 --> 00:25:58.539 in God, 00:25:59.579 --> 00:25:59.839 that you're 00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:00.220 not an 00:26:00.220 --> 00:26:00.880 atheist or 00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:01.400 something like 00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:01.720 that. 00:26:03.360 --> 00:26:03.759 Do you have 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.360 Judeo-Christian 00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:04.819 values? 00:26:04.920 --> 00:26:05.180 Do you have 00:26:05.180 --> 00:26:06.140 family values? 00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:08.600 Do you give 00:26:08.600 --> 00:26:09.279 some credit to 00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:10.120 the guy upstairs 00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:13.699 but for us 00:26:13.699 --> 00:26:14.319 to communicate 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:14.879 to the people 00:26:14.879 --> 00:26:15.419 around us 00:26:15.419 --> 00:26:16.059 that belief 00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:16.559 in God 00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:17.259 generically 00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:18.139 is all 00:26:18.139 --> 00:26:18.879 that's required 00:26:18.879 --> 00:26:21.219 is to deny 00:26:21.219 --> 00:26:21.719 who Jesus 00:26:21.719 --> 00:26:22.459 really is. 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:25.799 To act 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:26.199 like what's 00:26:26.199 --> 00:26:26.899 most important 00:26:26.899 --> 00:26:27.559 is putting 00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:28.599 God back 00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:29.219 in the schools 00:26:29.219 --> 00:26:29.679 or putting 00:26:29.679 --> 00:26:30.039 the Ten 00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:30.759 Commandments 00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:32.000 back in the 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:32.639 courthouses 00:26:32.639 --> 00:26:35.039 or just for 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:35.559 people to 00:26:35.559 --> 00:26:36.339 acknowledge God 00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:36.699 in their 00:26:36.699 --> 00:26:37.839 public speeches 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:40.159 is not 00:26:40.159 --> 00:26:40.539 enough. 00:26:42.439 --> 00:26:43.039 Believing the 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:43.959 Ten Commandments 00:26:43.959 --> 00:26:44.559 never saved 00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:44.959 anybody, 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:45.539 believing that 00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:46.119 God exists 00:26:46.119 --> 00:26:46.720 never saved 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.159 anybody, 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:49.179 faith in 00:26:49.179 --> 00:26:49.819 Jesus as 00:26:49.819 --> 00:26:50.299 the Messiah 00:26:50.299 --> 00:26:50.659 is what 00:26:50.659 --> 00:26:51.279 saves people. 00:26:53.859 --> 00:26:54.399 Here's another 00:26:54.399 --> 00:26:54.779 one, watch 00:26:54.779 --> 00:26:56.359 out for denying 00:26:56.359 --> 00:26:56.959 Jesus by 00:26:56.959 --> 00:26:57.579 speaking and 00:26:57.579 --> 00:26:58.039 living as if 00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:58.599 some political 00:26:58.599 --> 00:26:59.319 figure or 00:26:59.319 --> 00:27:00.119 outcome is 00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:00.559 your greatest 00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:00.899 hope. 00:27:00.900 --> 00:27:04.420 to say 00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:04.960 that any 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:05.960 politician or 00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:06.720 election is 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.220 the last 00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:08.500 hope of 00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:09.280 America or 00:27:09.280 --> 00:27:09.780 the church 00:27:09.780 --> 00:27:10.220 is an 00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:10.820 Antichrist 00:27:10.820 --> 00:27:11.240 statement. 00:27:13.900 --> 00:27:14.600 Because we 00:27:14.600 --> 00:27:15.019 should instead 00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:15.680 be confessing 00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:16.160 that all 00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:17.019 authority belongs 00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:17.519 to Jesus, 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.280 that the 00:27:18.280 --> 00:27:18.640 hearts of 00:27:18.640 --> 00:27:19.340 all rulers 00:27:19.340 --> 00:27:19.759 are like 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:20.320 water in 00:27:20.320 --> 00:27:20.840 his hands, 00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:21.600 and that 00:27:21.600 --> 00:27:22.060 we as 00:27:22.060 --> 00:27:22.880 believers have 00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:23.460 hope for a 00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:24.160 greater kingdom 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:24.540 than the 00:27:24.540 --> 00:27:24.880 USA. 00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:28.019 Watch out for 00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:28.519 denying Jesus 00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:29.160 by finding more 00:27:29.160 --> 00:27:30.060 brotherhood in a 00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:30.839 political faction 00:27:30.839 --> 00:27:31.339 than in the 00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:32.299 church, as if 00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:32.980 the last hour is 00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:33.480 defined by 00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:34.319 American politics 00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:34.859 rather than by 00:27:34.859 --> 00:27:35.259 the Son of 00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:35.559 God. 00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:38.119 Watch out for 00:27:38.119 --> 00:27:38.899 denying Jesus by 00:27:38.899 --> 00:27:39.379 claiming to 00:27:39.379 --> 00:27:39.839 believe that he's 00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:40.220 the king of 00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:40.679 the universe, 00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:41.240 and yet giving 00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:41.859 him the least 00:27:41.859 --> 00:27:42.759 of your time 00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:43.859 and money. 00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:46.480 Watch out for 00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:47.220 denying Jesus by 00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:47.839 living as if 00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:48.940 sexual pleasure is 00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:49.539 the greatest thing 00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.200 that life has to 00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:50.460 offer. 00:27:54.879 --> 00:27:55.619 Watch out for 00:27:55.619 --> 00:27:56.419 denying Jesus by 00:27:56.419 --> 00:27:57.019 acting as if 00:27:57.019 --> 00:27:57.899 wrongs done to 00:27:57.899 --> 00:27:58.740 you are more 00:27:58.740 --> 00:27:59.740 unforgivable than 00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:00.380 those for which 00:28:00.380 --> 00:28:01.039 he has forgiven 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:01.700 you. 00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:05.839 So as we think 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:07.140 about the reality 00:28:07.140 --> 00:28:08.079 of Antichrist and 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:08.720 what it means to 00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:10.000 deny who Jesus is 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:10.640 and what it means to 00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:11.460 confess who Jesus 00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:12.599 is, let's be 00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:14.039 careful of speaking 00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:15.079 and living in 00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:16.660 ways that are 00:28:16.660 --> 00:28:17.819 kind of hard to 00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:18.400 see but are 00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:19.339 contrary to the 00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:20.039 reality of who 00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:20.660 Jesus is. 00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:22.700 And if you felt 00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.240 that, hey, you 00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:23.660 know what, some of 00:28:23.660 --> 00:28:24.220 that stuff was 00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:25.200 true in my life, 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:26.240 I know I did, 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:29.579 let's ask God's 00:28:29.579 --> 00:28:30.359 forgiveness for 00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:31.380 lying to the 00:28:31.380 --> 00:28:32.160 world about who 00:28:32.160 --> 00:28:33.839 Jesus is and 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:34.720 let's embrace the 00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:35.940 incredible privilege 00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:36.980 of confessing 00:28:36.980 --> 00:28:39.279 Jesus for who he 00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:40.160 is by speaking 00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:41.740 and living in a 00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.380 way that clearly 00:28:42.380 --> 00:28:43.480 shows that he is 00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:44.279 the only savior of 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:45.440 the world, anointed 00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:46.660 by God who brings 00:28:46.660 --> 00:28:47.420 us to the Father. 00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:50.140 And let's confess 00:28:50.140 --> 00:28:50.859 what the Father is 00:28:50.859 --> 00:28:51.700 really like based on 00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:52.539 his revelation to 00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:52.819 us. 00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:55.779 So John says, 00:28:55.899 --> 00:28:56.960 hey, children, 00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:57.419 don't be an 00:28:57.419 --> 00:28:58.379 antichrist, be a 00:28:58.379 --> 00:28:59.079 confessor of 00:28:59.079 --> 00:28:59.460 Christ. 00:29:00.919 --> 00:29:01.480 If we're going to 00:29:01.480 --> 00:29:01.899 stick with Jesus 00:29:01.899 --> 00:29:02.439 for life, we have 00:29:02.439 --> 00:29:03.119 to be somewhere, 00:29:03.939 --> 00:29:04.460 we have to remain 00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:04.939 in the fellowship 00:29:04.939 --> 00:29:05.439 of the local 00:29:05.439 --> 00:29:06.039 church, we have 00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:06.480 to confess 00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:07.059 something, we 00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:07.639 have to confess 00:29:07.639 --> 00:29:08.460 the Son and 00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:09.059 the Father as 00:29:09.059 --> 00:29:09.480 they reveal 00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:10.039 themselves. 00:29:11.179 --> 00:29:11.439 And number 00:29:11.439 --> 00:29:11.960 three, we have 00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:12.579 to know why it 00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:12.980 matters. 00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:14.439 Why does it 00:29:14.439 --> 00:29:14.980 matter that we 00:29:14.980 --> 00:29:15.819 stick with Jesus 00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:16.519 for life? 00:29:18.179 --> 00:29:18.960 Verses 24 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:19.740 through 25. 00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:22.640 Let what you 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:23.599 heard from the 00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:24.920 beginning abide in 00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:25.220 you. 00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:27.420 If what you heard 00:29:27.420 --> 00:29:27.940 from the beginning 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:28.980 abides in you, then 00:29:28.980 --> 00:29:30.019 you too will abide in 00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:30.720 the Son and in the 00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:31.019 Father. 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:33.799 And this is the 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:34.539 promise that he made 00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:36.720 to us, eternal 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.240 life. 00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:40.380 When John talks 00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:41.000 about what they 00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:41.740 have heard from 00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:42.339 the beginning, he's 00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:43.279 talking about the 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:44.380 truth of verses 00:29:44.380 --> 00:29:46.059 21 and 22. 00:29:46.920 --> 00:29:47.759 The confession 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.579 confirmed by the 00:29:48.579 --> 00:29:49.279 Holy Spirit that 00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:49.920 Jesus is the 00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:50.359 Christ, the 00:29:50.359 --> 00:29:51.019 anointed one. 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.500 The confession of 00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:54.539 what God has done 00:29:54.539 --> 00:29:55.660 through his Son. 00:29:57.319 --> 00:29:57.740 And John is 00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:58.440 saying, let that 00:29:58.440 --> 00:29:59.500 abide in you, let 00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:00.339 it remain in you, 00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:01.160 hang on to that 00:30:01.160 --> 00:30:01.899 truth, don't let 00:30:01.899 --> 00:30:03.039 it go, don't let 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:03.899 something else take 00:30:03.899 --> 00:30:04.500 its place. 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:07.519 Sticking with 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:08.500 Jesus requires that 00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.740 we remain in the 00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:11.379 church, but it 00:30:11.379 --> 00:30:12.559 also requires that 00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:13.539 the truth of Jesus 00:30:13.539 --> 00:30:15.460 remain in us. 00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:18.759 And if the truth of 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:20.000 Jesus remains in 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.819 us, what is the 00:30:20.819 --> 00:30:21.180 result? 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:24.059 We remain in the 00:30:24.059 --> 00:30:24.720 Son and the 00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:25.319 Father and we 00:30:25.319 --> 00:30:26.220 experience eternal 00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:26.640 life. 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:30.299 He says, you too 00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:31.299 will abide in the 00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:32.019 Son and in the 00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:32.299 Father. 00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:32.840 And this is the 00:30:32.840 --> 00:30:33.340 promise that he 00:30:33.340 --> 00:30:34.279 made to us, eternal 00:30:34.279 --> 00:30:34.680 life. 00:30:37.380 --> 00:30:38.140 And as you read 00:30:38.140 --> 00:30:39.000 through 1 John, 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:41.660 you realize that 00:30:41.660 --> 00:30:42.460 for John, everything 00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:43.059 is connected. 00:30:44.860 --> 00:30:45.880 He gives us these 00:30:45.880 --> 00:30:48.120 three big tests to 00:30:48.120 --> 00:30:49.000 identify if you are 00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:49.480 in the faith. 00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:50.960 Do you believe 00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:51.319 rightly? 00:30:51.940 --> 00:30:52.620 Do you obey? 00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.519 Do you love? 00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:55.500 But these aren't 00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:56.700 three separate train 00:30:56.700 --> 00:30:57.180 tracks. 00:30:57.860 --> 00:30:58.440 They're always 00:30:58.440 --> 00:30:59.440 crisscrossing over 00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:00.259 one another and 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:01.140 intertwining and 00:31:01.140 --> 00:31:01.900 bleeding over into 00:31:01.900 --> 00:31:02.420 one another. 00:31:04.620 --> 00:31:05.900 For John, everything 00:31:05.900 --> 00:31:06.740 is connected and 00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:08.240 when he says, you 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:09.059 will abide in the 00:31:09.059 --> 00:31:09.460 Son and the 00:31:09.460 --> 00:31:10.620 Father, and then he 00:31:10.620 --> 00:31:11.460 says, this is a 00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:11.920 promise that he 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:12.319 made to us, 00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:13.059 eternal life. 00:31:13.819 --> 00:31:14.500 John's talking 00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:15.079 about the same 00:31:15.079 --> 00:31:15.439 thing. 00:31:18.379 --> 00:31:18.939 Pastor Mike 00:31:18.939 --> 00:31:20.679 talked about this 00:31:20.679 --> 00:31:21.599 at the end of his 00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:22.439 sermon last week. 00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:27.619 We remain in the 00:31:27.619 --> 00:31:28.179 Son and the 00:31:28.179 --> 00:31:28.639 Father and we 00:31:28.639 --> 00:31:29.279 experience the 00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:30.000 eternal life that 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:30.639 God has promised 00:31:30.639 --> 00:31:31.279 to us and it's 00:31:31.279 --> 00:31:32.039 the same thing 00:31:32.039 --> 00:31:32.939 because life is 00:31:32.939 --> 00:31:33.720 found in the 00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:34.299 Son and in the 00:31:34.299 --> 00:31:34.579 Father. 00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:38.439 Salvation and 00:31:38.439 --> 00:31:39.299 eternal life are 00:31:39.299 --> 00:31:40.779 often described as 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:41.539 a gift. 00:31:41.539 --> 00:31:41.599 gift. 00:31:42.799 --> 00:31:43.659 And that's true. 00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.220 That's biblical. 00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:45.539 Paul says it. 00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:46.420 It's a free gift. 00:31:48.420 --> 00:31:48.859 But if we're not 00:31:48.859 --> 00:31:49.599 careful, if we think 00:31:49.599 --> 00:31:51.259 of life, eternal life 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:53.039 from Jesus only as a 00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:55.659 gift, it can blind us 00:31:55.659 --> 00:31:56.319 to some of what's 00:31:56.319 --> 00:31:57.119 really going on. 00:31:59.159 --> 00:32:00.119 Eternal life is not 00:32:00.119 --> 00:32:00.779 something that Jesus 00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:02.240 hands to us like a 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:03.000 present on Christmas 00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:03.399 morning. 00:32:04.759 --> 00:32:06.119 It isn't something that 00:32:06.119 --> 00:32:07.960 passes from him to us 00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:08.740 and then we take it 00:32:08.740 --> 00:32:09.279 and go. 00:32:11.100 --> 00:32:12.519 Eternal life is Jesus 00:32:12.519 --> 00:32:13.920 giving us himself, 00:32:14.140 --> 00:32:15.180 giving us the life 00:32:15.180 --> 00:32:16.319 that he has. 00:32:16.880 --> 00:32:17.759 And apart from him, 00:32:17.840 --> 00:32:18.680 we don't have that 00:32:18.680 --> 00:32:19.420 life at all. 00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:22.660 Eternal life is less 00:32:22.660 --> 00:32:23.680 like a box to be 00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:24.420 opened and more like 00:32:24.420 --> 00:32:25.500 a power source to be 00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:26.100 plugged into. 00:32:27.680 --> 00:32:28.680 The eternal life 00:32:28.680 --> 00:32:29.420 that's promised by 00:32:29.420 --> 00:32:30.660 God is found only in 00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:31.700 union with him. 00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:35.259 And this life that 00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:36.180 John is talking about 00:32:36.180 --> 00:32:37.259 is the life that we 00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:37.940 were meant for. 00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:39.940 It's not just life 00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:41.080 exactly as it is now, 00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:41.860 extended forever. 00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:44.759 It's a life that 00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:45.940 begins now in a 00:32:45.940 --> 00:32:46.740 relationship with the 00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:47.680 Father and the Son. 00:32:48.140 --> 00:32:49.480 And it does continue 00:32:49.480 --> 00:32:51.740 forever, but it also 00:32:51.740 --> 00:32:52.920 changes and grows and 00:32:52.920 --> 00:32:53.819 is transformed. 00:32:54.600 --> 00:32:55.539 And there's a promise 00:32:55.539 --> 00:32:56.700 of greater life coming 00:32:56.700 --> 00:32:57.559 than what we have yet 00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:57.940 seen. 00:32:57.940 --> 00:33:02.279 And so, when we 00:33:02.279 --> 00:33:02.980 think about this 00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:03.860 eternal life, there 00:33:03.860 --> 00:33:04.559 are a few things we 00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:05.100 need to know. 00:33:07.360 --> 00:33:08.920 If you are lonely 00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:11.220 right now, which I 00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:11.880 think a lot of people 00:33:11.880 --> 00:33:14.320 are with COVID, if 00:33:14.320 --> 00:33:15.019 you are lonely right 00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:15.680 now, you should know 00:33:15.680 --> 00:33:16.400 that this life is 00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:16.900 relational. 00:33:18.080 --> 00:33:18.779 Jesus said, this is 00:33:18.779 --> 00:33:19.600 eternal life, that 00:33:19.600 --> 00:33:20.400 they know you, the 00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:21.259 only true God, and 00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:22.160 Jesus Christ whom you 00:33:22.160 --> 00:33:22.559 have sent. 00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:26.840 If you are sick or 00:33:26.840 --> 00:33:27.920 weak, then you 00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:29.559 or even approaching 00:33:29.559 --> 00:33:30.440 death, you should 00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:31.019 know that this 00:33:31.019 --> 00:33:33.220 imperishable, glorious 00:33:33.220 --> 00:33:34.460 life that God has 00:33:34.460 --> 00:33:35.580 promised for us is the 00:33:35.580 --> 00:33:36.799 resurrection life of 00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:37.120 Jesus. 00:33:37.259 --> 00:33:38.500 Jesus who said, I am 00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:39.460 the resurrection and 00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:39.820 the life. 00:33:40.180 --> 00:33:40.860 And the life that 00:33:40.860 --> 00:33:42.559 Jesus has now in his 00:33:42.559 --> 00:33:43.440 resurrection that will 00:33:43.440 --> 00:33:44.900 continue forever is the 00:33:44.900 --> 00:33:45.660 life that he promises 00:33:45.660 --> 00:33:46.580 to share with you. 00:33:48.740 --> 00:33:50.320 If life right now feels 00:33:50.320 --> 00:33:51.640 boring or meaningless to 00:33:51.640 --> 00:33:52.820 you, and the idea of 00:33:52.820 --> 00:33:53.820 eternal life just sounds 00:33:53.820 --> 00:33:56.200 terrible, you should 00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:56.860 know that Jesus right 00:33:56.859 --> 00:33:57.819 now is building a 00:33:57.819 --> 00:33:58.139 kingdom. 00:33:59.879 --> 00:34:00.859 And his promise of 00:34:00.859 --> 00:34:01.740 eternal life to you 00:34:01.740 --> 00:34:02.919 means that your life and 00:34:02.919 --> 00:34:04.339 your actions now are not 00:34:04.339 --> 00:34:05.659 meaningless, but they can 00:34:05.659 --> 00:34:07.059 have eternal significance 00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:09.359 in connection with Jesus. 00:34:12.859 --> 00:34:14.279 If your life feels 00:34:14.279 --> 00:34:17.159 hopelessly polluted by the 00:34:17.159 --> 00:34:19.900 evil of others or the evil 00:34:19.900 --> 00:34:22.339 you have done, you should 00:34:22.339 --> 00:34:23.719 know that this eternal life 00:34:23.719 --> 00:34:24.779 that God promises, it 00:34:24.780 --> 00:34:26.600 empowers healing and change 00:34:26.600 --> 00:34:28.700 now in relationship with 00:34:28.700 --> 00:34:29.680 the Father and it 00:34:29.680 --> 00:34:31.540 promises an eternal home 00:34:31.540 --> 00:34:33.180 where nothing twisted or 00:34:33.180 --> 00:34:34.280 sinful will be allowed to 00:34:34.280 --> 00:34:36.220 enter, a place of perfect 00:34:36.220 --> 00:34:38.140 peace and justice. 00:34:40.540 --> 00:34:41.600 And that's what's on the 00:34:41.600 --> 00:34:43.320 line in sticking with Jesus 00:34:43.320 --> 00:34:43.940 for life. 00:34:46.220 --> 00:34:47.500 And John is saying, don't 00:34:47.500 --> 00:34:48.120 miss out on that. 00:34:48.180 --> 00:34:49.360 It's been promised to you, 00:34:49.420 --> 00:34:50.340 this eternal life. 00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:52.140 So stick with Jesus. 00:34:52.139 --> 00:34:53.819 Don't be a Jesus denier who 00:34:53.819 --> 00:34:54.980 walks away from Jesus' 00:34:55.179 --> 00:34:55.460 church. 00:34:56.460 --> 00:34:57.859 Be a Jesus confessor who 00:34:57.859 --> 00:34:59.219 locks arms with other 00:34:59.219 --> 00:35:00.980 confessors and holds on for 00:35:00.980 --> 00:35:02.579 the eternal life that begins 00:35:02.579 --> 00:35:04.779 now and grows into the full 00:35:04.779 --> 00:35:05.960 glory of all that God has 00:35:05.960 --> 00:35:06.279 promised. 00:35:10.179 --> 00:35:11.339 So Christ the King Church, 00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:13.099 let's stick with Jesus for 00:35:13.099 --> 00:35:13.440 life. 00:35:14.980 --> 00:35:15.960 We're going to need three 00:35:15.960 --> 00:35:17.019 things if we're going to make 00:35:17.019 --> 00:35:17.199 it. 00:35:18.139 --> 00:35:19.179 We need to be somewhere 00:35:19.179 --> 00:35:20.980 prayer within the regular 00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:21.859 gathering of Jesus' 00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:23.079 followers called the church. 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:25.500 We need to confess something 00:35:25.500 --> 00:35:28.019 by our lives and our words 00:35:28.019 --> 00:35:29.839 showing that Jesus really is 00:35:29.839 --> 00:35:31.000 who he said he is. 00:35:32.519 --> 00:35:33.679 And we need to know why it 00:35:33.679 --> 00:35:36.859 matters because eternal life 00:35:36.859 --> 00:35:37.579 is on the line. 00:35:40.179 --> 00:35:41.199 So let's pray together. 00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:47.619 Father, may none of us here 00:35:47.619 --> 00:35:49.239 who have heard your word this 00:35:49.239 --> 00:35:51.940 morning be antichrists. 00:35:54.059 --> 00:35:56.400 But instead, may all of us 00:35:56.400 --> 00:36:00.019 today who have heard your word 00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:03.719 remain confessors of Jesus 00:36:03.719 --> 00:36:04.960 for life. 00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:07.900 Amen.